SF Giants should have plenty to celebrate with 2027 Hall of Fame class

The 2027 Hall of Fame ballot is right around the corner, and will be headlined by SF Giants legend Buster Posey. Posey could join Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker in next year’s Hall of Fame class.

SF Giants should have plenty to celebrate with 2027 Hall of Fame class

For the first time since Randy Johnson in 2015, the Giants will be represented in this year’s class. Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltrán were elected through different channels, and will be inducted in the summer.

The Giants announced that they plan to retire Kent’s No. 21 in August. They published a statement to recognize Beltrán’s election, but that might be the extent of it given that he only played 44 games for the Giants in 2011.

It is hard to ignore the hypocrisy of the voters overwhelming supporting for Beltrán, but leaving Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens off the ballot. Beltrán was viewed as the leader of the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal of 2017. That team may have been good enough to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series on talent alone, but we will never know. It is the only baseball championship in my lifetime that I view with an asterisk.

On a more positive note, Posey will headline a group in first-time eligible players on next year’s ballot. Jon Lester could merit consideration. Félix Hernández, Bobby Abreu, and Chase Utley will be some of the holdovers from this year’s ballot. 

Posey may not have counting stats in his favor, such as 1,500 hits or 158 home runs, but his impact can be measured far beyond that. He was the best two-way catcher of his era, and anchored the Giants for three title runs. This includes in 2012, where he won the NL MVP Award. No catcher has won the award since then.

Catcher is not a position known for longevity, and Joe Mauer’s election in 2024 should pave the way for Posey to reach that 75-percent threshold with ease. 

In addition to this, the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for managers, executives, and umpires will convene in December to vote for the 2027 Hall of Fame class. That class has not been published yet, but it should include Bruce Bochy and Dusty Baker.

Both Bochy and Baker have slam-dunk case, with over 2,000 wins and World Series titles to their name. Bochy won three of those titles with San Francisco, whereas Baker won one with the Astros in 2022.

Bochy and Baker now work in the Giants’ front office as advisors. They will start the Hall of Fame celebration with Kent this summer, but should have plenty more to celebrate in 2027.